Scan barcode
joelteon's review
4.0
I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Dust and Lightning is a lot of fun with great characters and a simple story. Even though it has epic scope just on the fringes. I had a great time reading this 120 page novella in between two big novels as part of my March Madness campaign.
I liked Ames a lot, standing up for what is right without any hesitation. He was a great lead character, ably backed up by Violet. They had a really fun relationship from the get go and it was wonderful that they didn’t fall into romance as that would have soured it all for me.
The one problem that I had and its hard because obviously this is a novella and things have to move quickly, but it just felt like there was a bit too much convenience and easy solves. Whenever there was a problem it was bam, sorted. I wanted just a bit more padding to spread the conflict out a little bit. But I still had a wonderful time with Dust and Lightning and I would love to know what happens next because things are certainly heating up.
Once again a massive thank you to Rebecca for providing me with a review copy. This was a fine addition to my March Madness reading plans.
Rating: 4/5
Dust and Lightning is a lot of fun with great characters and a simple story. Even though it has epic scope just on the fringes. I had a great time reading this 120 page novella in between two big novels as part of my March Madness campaign.
I liked Ames a lot, standing up for what is right without any hesitation. He was a great lead character, ably backed up by Violet. They had a really fun relationship from the get go and it was wonderful that they didn’t fall into romance as that would have soured it all for me.
The one problem that I had and its hard because obviously this is a novella and things have to move quickly, but it just felt like there was a bit too much convenience and easy solves. Whenever there was a problem it was bam, sorted. I wanted just a bit more padding to spread the conflict out a little bit. But I still had a wonderful time with Dust and Lightning and I would love to know what happens next because things are certainly heating up.
Once again a massive thank you to Rebecca for providing me with a review copy. This was a fine addition to my March Madness reading plans.
Rating: 4/5
aliteraryescape's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
narratricenessa's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
2.5
I was really looking forward to this story, especially when I noticed it was a science fiction novella and I'm a huge fan of those. Unfortunately the story did not live up to my expectations or the potential it clearly have at the beginning of the story...
markreadsbooks_sg's review
4.0
I got Dust & Lightning by Rebecca Crundon from the author for free, for a fair and honest review.
I started to read this book with some trepidation, as this is the first book I have got directly from the writer, However, after reading the first few pages, I no longer had this fear.
The Writing style of Rebecca Crundon was so easy to read,it was like they were reading the story to me personally.This is something that can happen if I have read the author before, but this is the first time it has happened so quickly on a brand new writer to me.
Another thing that worked well was the world building not just, how the Earth was was ruled, during the period of the book, also the planet Kilnin, with the type of creatures on the planet.
I have only one complaint about the story, although I loved the way the story ended, I do think this is a book that would make a great series, as I feel there is so many places the story could go.
I would recomend this book to people who like Sc-fi, as well as people who love a great story in a similar vain of a classic spy thriller. If You like these types of books, or you just want to read a great story,then I would recommend,you read,Dust & Lightning by Rebecca Crundon.
jugglingpup's review
4.0
To read a full review check it out here.
Yet another amazing Crunden book. This one focused on family and the lengths people will go for them. The attorney might just be my favorite attorney I have ever read.
Yet another amazing Crunden book. This one focused on family and the lengths people will go for them. The attorney might just be my favorite attorney I have ever read.
katkinney's review
5.0
In DUST AND LIGHTNING, it’s the year 4054 and mankind has not heeded the warning signs of pollution and climate disaster. Earth is in bad shape, anyone on the planet has to wear masks to survive the smoke and smog, and the rich take spaceships off planet, where conveniently, humankind has colonized ten or so nearby planets. Ames Emerys is a blue-collar worker whose brother Callum was recently arrested and sentenced to hard labor. Ames received a letter that he was killed while being transported to the prison planet Kilnin, except a cousin claims that he saw Callum departing the transport ship alive. Now Ames, with the help of the plucky Violet, who he meets and helps save from unfortunate circumstances on the transport ship, is determined to find out what really happened. I enjoyed all the layers in this sci-fi novella, with detailed world building, nifty details on other planets like slightly altered non-Earth rats, “dust worms”, prison breaks and awesome sci fi battles, and of course, all the seedy things those in power will do when they have powerless people to exploit. A neat read!
wjlongiii's review
3.0
A thoroughly mediocre read. It isn't bad; there is just a quagmire of overused tropes to wade through.
I will say Violet was by far the most interesting character, and I would gladly read more about her if the author were inclined to write such a story.
I will say Violet was by far the most interesting character, and I would gladly read more about her if the author were inclined to write such a story.
spiraldots's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.25
dmbarnham's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
Amazon Rating: ☆★★★★
Book Rating: ☆☆★★★
—
A short and enjoyable read. Part of me kept comparing the world to older light, sci-fi books, most notably Harry Harrison’s ‘Stainless Steel Rat’ series, not for the storylines or the comedic way he wrote, but because the universe Ames and Violet inhabit feels so much like the same one Jim DeGritz inhabited. I could actually see this being set in an earlier time to Jim. If I’m being completely honest, this upset me in the beginning, don’t get me wrong, I certainly liked it, I love those books - it triggered the nostalgia feels. But there was also this niggling feeling, perhaps because I wasn’t expecting it. We are galavanting two thousand years into the future but it feels like it is still very much a hands-on and analogy world. People jump into random flying cars and take to the steering wheel. They have wallets and use payphones. They have security but it's old school and passive. In the beginning, these things did bother me, but then I realised that was me being pedantic, I was so focused on the background that I ignored the foreground. It has a 70s space fiction feel, so what, a lot of my favourite shows written outside their time utilise that effect, Just think Terry Gilliam’s Brazil or the Fallout Games. And once I did that I was digging the world around me.
At the end of the day. This is a light and entertaining read. It is fun and some of the scenes are beautifully written. The stand out to me is the start of the book when Ames is waiting for the ship to arrive and it starts raining. The words and visualisation they imprinted make me think ‘hot damn, this is so well described.’ It does drift after the start, the slow descriptive style makes way for action. Overall a solid and very easy read.
This is also a story that focuses’ more along the lines of the people in the scene and less around everything else. It is a book about relationships and how far they’d go for someone they love. I do have one or two problems with passing characters. You know. People who might just be in it for a short while and leave. And that’s that I found their complete and utter acceptance and dialogue choice highly unbelievable. If this story has one major flaw, it is that strangers are willing to take a risk on each other without even a hint of hesitation. This is fine for some; aka it is the foundation of Ames and Violet's instant friendship and I liked it, they also had a reason to trust and support each other. But it felt like everyone was 100% trusting the moment they meet, and it grated. The main characters had their own unique voices, but the side ones felt a little sameish.
---
My rating Systems:
Amazon Rating: (because they suck when it comes to book ratings)
5 – Fantastic work. Anything from brilliant to highly likeable.
4 – A decent solid piece of writing with a lot going for it. I really dig your jive.
X – No rating if I didn’t like it or think others won’t like it.
All other Book Rating Systems:
5 – Absolutely genius. I probably want to marry you.
4 – Fantastic story. I loved it and will pick up your other work without hesitation.
3 – A good, solid story. I enjoyed it and I’m sure others will too.
2 – I wasn’t into it. Some potential but missed opportunities.
1 – Yeah, na.
Amazon score is my honest rating + an extra star.
If I’m reading outside my preferred genres I auto-add a star to offset my own bias.
Book Rating: ☆☆★★★
—
A short and enjoyable read. Part of me kept comparing the world to older light, sci-fi books, most notably Harry Harrison’s ‘Stainless Steel Rat’ series, not for the storylines or the comedic way he wrote, but because the universe Ames and Violet inhabit feels so much like the same one Jim DeGritz inhabited. I could actually see this being set in an earlier time to Jim. If I’m being completely honest, this upset me in the beginning, don’t get me wrong, I certainly liked it, I love those books - it triggered the nostalgia feels. But there was also this niggling feeling, perhaps because I wasn’t expecting it. We are galavanting two thousand years into the future but it feels like it is still very much a hands-on and analogy world. People jump into random flying cars and take to the steering wheel. They have wallets and use payphones. They have security but it's old school and passive. In the beginning, these things did bother me, but then I realised that was me being pedantic, I was so focused on the background that I ignored the foreground. It has a 70s space fiction feel, so what, a lot of my favourite shows written outside their time utilise that effect, Just think Terry Gilliam’s Brazil or the Fallout Games. And once I did that I was digging the world around me.
At the end of the day. This is a light and entertaining read. It is fun and some of the scenes are beautifully written. The stand out to me is the start of the book when Ames is waiting for the ship to arrive and it starts raining. The words and visualisation they imprinted make me think ‘hot damn, this is so well described.’ It does drift after the start, the slow descriptive style makes way for action. Overall a solid and very easy read.
This is also a story that focuses’ more along the lines of the people in the scene and less around everything else. It is a book about relationships and how far they’d go for someone they love. I do have one or two problems with passing characters. You know. People who might just be in it for a short while and leave. And that’s that I found their complete and utter acceptance and dialogue choice highly unbelievable. If this story has one major flaw, it is that strangers are willing to take a risk on each other without even a hint of hesitation. This is fine for some; aka it is the foundation of Ames and Violet's instant friendship and I liked it, they also had a reason to trust and support each other. But it felt like everyone was 100% trusting the moment they meet, and it grated. The main characters had their own unique voices, but the side ones felt a little sameish.
---
My rating Systems:
Amazon Rating: (because they suck when it comes to book ratings)
5 – Fantastic work. Anything from brilliant to highly likeable.
4 – A decent solid piece of writing with a lot going for it. I really dig your jive.
X – No rating if I didn’t like it or think others won’t like it.
All other Book Rating Systems:
5 – Absolutely genius. I probably want to marry you.
4 – Fantastic story. I loved it and will pick up your other work without hesitation.
3 – A good, solid story. I enjoyed it and I’m sure others will too.
2 – I wasn’t into it. Some potential but missed opportunities.
1 – Yeah, na.
Amazon score is my honest rating + an extra star.
If I’m reading outside my preferred genres I auto-add a star to offset my own bias.